Brazilians’ clash will be decisive

FORGET the battle for supremacy between Argentine aces Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, today’s key clash will be between beastly Brazilians Fernandinho and Jorginho.

That’s according to Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, who reckons the midfield match-up will decide whether the Blues or hosts Manchester City go home with all three points.

“You know very well that the midfield of City is one of the best in the world; not only Fernandinho, but also Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, David Silva,” said Sarri.

“Technically they’re the best midfield in Europe, so it will be really very difficult to be in control of the match.

“It’s right that the match is there more than in the strikers.

“But it’s wrong to say you stop City by stopping Fernandinho, or Chelsea by stopping Jorginho.

“It’s wrong for both, because they are able to play if you stop Fernandinho and also we’re able to play if you stop Jorginho.

“We have options.

“Maybe they have more options than us because of course they have worked on this for three seasons.

“But in Naples it wasn’t a big problem if there was a man on Jorginho, so I hope it will be the same here in the future.

“I expect Pep Guardiola’s team want to always be in control of the match, always in possession of the ball, and they’re able to do it so it’s a very difficult match.

“We are used to having the ball and possession so it will be very different. Maybe we have to defend lower.

“It wasn’t a choice in the last game [against City], it was a necessity that we sat deeper in the second half and this will be the same. We will try to play our football, but if they are able to play their football of course you have to stay lower.”

Chelsea became the first team to beat City in the Premier League this season when they triumphed 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in December.

Both sides went with a false nine that day, with Eden Hazard through the middle for Chelsea and Raheem Sterling, and later Riyad Mahrez, taking on the role for City.

Aguero missed that game through injury, but will no doubt start today. And while Sarri suggested he could use the tactic again, it is almost impossible to think he won’t start with new boy Higuain.

Sarri added: “I don’t know. At the moment the situation is different – we have another striker. We can make another decision but, I don’t know, maybe we will play with a false nine.”

Sarri’s men are still looking for their first away win of 2019.

But he said: “I don’t know if there’s a reason for it, I don’t think so.

“At the beginning of the season we won more away than at home. At the moment it’s not a statistic. We need to wait one month more.

“I want to see the away results over a long time, not for just three or four matches.”